Lionsgate and the Erwin brothers’ faith-based Kingdom Story Company — which efficiently launched The Finest Christmas Pageant Ever on the field workplace final weekend — introduced Tuesday they’re renewing their first-look deal for one more three years. That can put them in enterprise collectively for a full decade.
The pact was introduced by Lionsgate Movement Image Group chair Adam Fogelson and Kingdom Story Company CEO Kevin Downes, who co-founded the corporate in 2019 alongside Jon and Andrew Erwin.
In a twinned transfer, Downes revealed that the corporate has promoted Kingdom Story president and COO Brandon Gregory to companion.
“Over the past decade, Kingdom films have established a unique ability to connect with their audiences in the faith community and beyond through high quality storytelling and exceptional productions, like their holiday hit The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Fogelson stated in a press release.
Added Downes, “2024 has been Kingdom Story Company’s biggest year ever with a slate of three films. I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible team of people who made it possible — from the filmmakers and cast to our executive team, marketing team, and especially our partners at Lionsgate, who have always championed our films and the audience they serve. Our goal is to share stories that ignite a rush of hope, and we are proud that each of our films this year has not only entertained but also sparked conversations about faith and resilience when needed more than ever.”
The trio of 2024 movies are Odd Angels, starring Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson; Unsung Hero, the autobiographical movie from five-time Grammy Award-winning artist Joel Smallbone, whose band For King + Nation is without doubt one of the most adorned bands for faith-based audiences; and The Finest Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by The Chosen filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. An adaptation of the beloved basic youngsters’s e-book of the identical title, the inspirational pic opened to a better-than-expected $11.1 million on the home field workplace over the Nov. 8-10 weekend to complete Monday (Veteran’s Day) with $12.2 million in ticket gross sales.
The household pleasant, PG-rated Christmas Pageant performed greatest within the south and center of the nation, the place it hopes to stay a stronghold all through the year-end holidays, though it should face eager competitors from a slew of tentpoles ready to unfurl over Thanksgiving — Depraved and Moana 2 particularly. And this weekend, it goes up towards one other holiday-themed pic, Amazon and MGM’s Santa Claus action-adventure Pink One starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evens, though that film is rated PG-13.
“The power of redemptive storytelling continues to find its voice. At Kingdom Story Company, we are honored to be a part of expanding the quality of films for the faith audience that we love. Seeing that growth extend into the mainstream is a dream come true,” stated Andrew Erwin, co-founder and chief artistic officer of Kingdom Story.
